What I've learned

During the last week I have learned that both TextEdit and Microsoft Word will allow me to create and save Plain Text documents. Plain Text is essential to being able to create and post HTML documents that will actually convert themselves into web pages. The issue is finding how to do that in each document. The Non-Designer's Presentation Book was helpful in showing me to make a better presentation. I noticed the acronym that the principles makes, which was somewhat unexpected.....CRAP. This stands for Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity. Contrast is putting some contrasting images, backgrounds and text in a presentation. Repetition is to repeat titles and main points so that the audience can get a better understanding of the material. Alignment is placing text and images so they are in a particular format and order on the page. Proximity is placing all of the elements close to each other on the page to make it easier to read. It was interesting to learn how to create the HTML document and get all of the codes right. At first I tried making the page on iWeb, when I realized that it needed to be done through the coding. The next challenge was in accessing the Home Server, which I was not allowed to do with the Fetch program at first. It was only after I installed and uploaded my material via Cyberduck that I figured out how to work the Fetch program.

My learning style, I discovered is more visual than auditory. I even learned that Google Sites is slightly more intuitive than iWeb. It is also easier to post material, with the exception of large pictures, on Google Sites than to post from iWeb. To post from iWeb it is required to have a MobileMe account, which costs $99.00 a year. This is somewhat out of my price range, being a college student with limited income. In the end I had to use the HTML in the editing window to post the Google Sites page.

BONUS/Extra Credit: Mac Users: I found a free program called Natural Reader 2.0 for my Mac, which can be downloaded from www.naturalreaders.com which is a NaturalSoft application. It is intuitive, easy to use and downloads quickly to your computer.

The "Magic Box"

I already know a fair amount about my computer, which happens to be a Mac. I know plenty about the various Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Powerpoint and Excel. I am learning about Entourage, however, which is the Mac equivalent of Outlook for Windows. These applications make sending and receiving e-mails much easier, since they can be linked to various e-mail accounts and negate the need for putting your password in every time you log in to your account. If I don't know what I'm doing, I typically click around until I figure something out or at least have a general idea of what the program does. Being in my early 20's, I know quite a bit about applications such as iTunes, iPhoto, Safari, Firefox, various IM programs and the Address Book on my Mac. I have learned that it is much easier to find files and applications via the Mac's Finder window than it ever was on a PC.

My first challenge within Google Docs was to learn how to upload the particular files I wanted to post. Next came the process of learning how to share with either the class, the school, or my fellow teammates and the instructor. At one point I had to help a teammate who was struggling with the system. It took a while but I think we finally got him on the right track at least.

EXTRA CREDIT (STORAGE SITE) Reviewed several storage sites and I liked Buzzword: http://www.adobe.com/acom/buzzword/. As an Adobe product, it is solid and dependable with a good text editor like Word from Microsoft. Buzzword accesses latest version of your document, and the ability to share feedback and respond to each other's comments from any computer. Applications include tables, presentations, web conferencing, file organization, creating PDFs and a mobile application. It gives the user the ability to store up to 5GB of storage space with a limit of 200MB per file. There is no installation and the site for basic services is free. Buzzword is user-friendly and I found it easier to upload my resume than on Google Docs. Other storage sites I viewed are Zoho at http://www.zoho.com, EtherPad at http://etherpad.com, and Peepel at http://peepel.com.

CST-101

I have learned a bit about the class so far and a few things I wasn't entirely aware of regarding both Macs and PCs. These things include, the definitions of GUI and instance as they pertain to computers and the theory of standard functionality. I was aware, however of most of the other terms and definitions. I often learn new things about such seemingly simple applications as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and iTunes. In the word processing resources, I learned about Format Painter, which allows the user to copy formats that have already been previously applied. This information was in the Microsoft Word Layout And Graphics Features pdf file. The Atomic Learning site helped me to understand the compatibility mode feature of Microsoft Word. The calendar was time-consuming, though it is a very good idea to have one. Not many people had posted on the resumes in my group, so I have only been able to post two responses so far.

New movies and 80's TV shows.

At first I wasn't entirely sure what to post, but then I thought back to a conversation and a few thoughts I had a few days ago. I was talking to a friend via text message and commented on several new movies that are coming out that were either remakes or 80's television adaptations. At first I mentioned the new Robin Hood movie, with Russell Crowe as the title character, the new A-Team movie based on the hit 80's show starring George Peppard and of course . . . MR. T! After that came a brief mention of the newest adaptation of the 1981 classic, Clash of The Titans, starring Sam Worthington of Terminator: Salvation fame, Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades.

I thought, and still think, that while Robin Hood maybe just a bit tired and over-done, the A-Team might be kind of fun to watch, just to see how bad it'll probably be compared to the show. Clash of The Titans will probably be okay, slightly above-average as remakes go. Then I thought, if they'll make an adaptation of the A-Team and the nightmare that was the Dukes of Hazzard movie, why not go all out and adapt a true 80's gem, MacGyver. I'm a big fan of the show despite the fact that the final episode originally aired when I was 5 years old. Just bear with me for a minute or two. Bring in Richard Dean Anderson in a cameo, ask someone like, okay the only blonde who looks even remotely like Anderson is Sean William Scott or Stifler as you might know him better. But take him, maybe Jason Alexander as Pete Thornton and say, Brendan Fraser (because I honestly can't think of anyone else) to play Jack Dalton. If you can think of anyone better suited to any of these roles, either comment or send me an e-mail with the title of MacGyver. That's it for now, but I'm bound to have more random thoughts to share in the next few days or so.